Voyger 1 outdistances the solar wind

Jstas

All it really means is that Voyager 1 is WAAAAAAY out there. But, it's apparently close to interstellar space. That's a bit of a big deal and it's providing lots of good data on what is actually going on out there. But reaching the point where the solar wind stops is important because it means something else out there is acting upon it with enough force to change the direction or slow it down to zero or near zero.

Here's the link to the news story: http://www.universetoday.com/81662/voyager-1-has-outdistanced-the-solar-wind/

Here's the NASA press release: http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2010/dec/HQ_10-334_Voyager_Voyages.html

Here's the article itself from Universe Today 'cause it's probably slashdotted by now:

Voyager 1 Has Outdistanced the Solar Wind

by Nancy Atkinson on December 13, 2010

The venerable Voyager spacecraft are truly going where no one has gone before. Voyager 1 has now reached a distant point at the edge of our solar system where it is no longer detecting the solar wind. At a distance of about 17.3 billion km (10.8 billion miles) from the Sun, Voyager 1 has crossed into an area where the velocity of the hot ionized gas, or plasma, emanating directly outward from the sun has slowed to zero. Scientists suspect the solar wind has been turned sideways by the pressure from the interstellar wind in the region between stars.

“The solar wind has turned the corner,” said Ed Stone, Voyager project scientist based at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, Calif. “Voyager 1 is getting close to interstellar space.”


The event is a major milestone in Voyager 1′s passage through the heliosheath, the turbulent outer shell of the sun’s sphere of influence, and the spacecraft’s upcoming departure from our solar system.

Since its launch on Sept. 5, 1977, Voyager 1’s Low-Energy Charged Particle Instrument has been used to measure the solar wind’s velocity.

When the speed of the charged particles hitting the outward face of Voyager 1 matched the spacecraft’s speed, researchers knew that the net outward speed of the solar wind was zero. This occurred in June, when Voyager 1 was about 10.6 billion miles from the sun.

However, velocities can fluctuate, so the scientists watched four more monthly readings before they were convinced the solar wind’s outward speed actually had slowed to zero. Analysis of the data shows the velocity of the solar wind has steadily slowed at a rate of about 45,000 mph each year since August 2007, when the solar wind was speeding outward at about 130,000 mph. The outward speed has remained at zero since June.

“When I realized that we were getting solid zeroes, I was amazed,” said Rob Decker, a Voyager Low-Energy Charged Particle Instrument co-investigator and senior staff scientist at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Md. “Here was Voyager, a spacecraft that has been a workhorse for 33 years, showing us something completely new again.”

Scientists believe Voyager 1 has not crossed the heliosheath into interstellar space. Crossing into interstellar space would mean a sudden drop in the density of hot particles and an increase in the density of cold particles. Scientists are putting the data into their models of the heliosphere’s structure and should be able to better estimate when Voyager 1 will reach interstellar space. Researchers currently estimate Voyager 1 will cross that frontier in about four years.

Our sun gives off a stream of charged particles that form a bubble known as the heliosphere around our solar system. The solar wind travels at supersonic speed until it crosses a shockwave called the termination shock. At this point, the solar wind dramatically slows down and heats up in the heliosheath.

A sister spacecraft, Voyager 2, was launched in Aug. 20, 1977 and has reached a position 8.8 billion miles from the sun. Both spacecraft have been traveling along different trajectories and at different speeds. Voyager 1 is traveling faster, at a speed of about 38,000 mph, compared to Voyager 2′s velocity of 35,000 mph. In the next few years, scientists expect Voyager 2 to encounter the same kind of phenomenon as Voyager 1.

The results were presented at the American Geophysical Union meeting in San Francisco.

vc69

Wow, very cool indeed. Thanks for posting Jon.

drselect

I be more impressed when it starts picking up mass and returns to earth.:eek:

maximillian

Love NASA. Money well spent. Now only if this was pushed on young kids in schools to excite them about science and engineering.

audiobliss

Wow, that's really something. Creation is remarkable!

Am I missing something, or was Voyager 2 actually launched before (Aug 20, 1977) Voyager 1 (Sept 5, 1977)??

Jstas

I dunno for sure. They may have gotten dates wrong. I though V2 was 1978 or 79. What do I know? I'm sure it'[s somewhere on the Interwebs.

exalted512

Man, Voyager 2 is slow...traveling at a measly 35,000mph
-Cody

HBombToo

I wonder if our Polks sound better out there?

Joe08867

Voyager 2 was launched about a month before Voyager 1.

Confusing but then again it is NASA we are talking about.

It is not farther away though because of the trajectory it was given.

skipf

HBombToo wrote: »

I wonder if our Polks sound better out there?

No sound at all.

zingo

I guess V'ger's not coming home?

mrbigbluelight

I hope Voyager uses the opportunity to report on the progress of Planet X.

nooshinjohn

HBombToo wrote: »

I wonder if our Polks sound better out there?

in my best spooky voice...


In space...

There is no-one to hear you scream.

cnh

Looks like they don't 'build' them like they used to? When's the last time you heard of a U.S. product that was still ticking and relaying info 33 years after it was activated!

That ought to be a wake-up call for NASA and Science and Engineering in the 'we don't make anything anymore --states!

cnh

bobman1235

cnh wrote: »

Looks like they don't 'build' them like they used to? When's the last time you heard of a U.S. product that was still ticking and relaying info 33 years after it was activated!

That ought to be a wake-up call for NASA and Science and Engineering in the 'we don't make anything anymore --states!

cnh

Um... how could a product newer than 1977 still be working 33 years in the future, when it's 2010? Don't we have to wait 33 years to see if things we build today last that long?

And there's a difference between a satellite designed to last 100 years in space and your s#$%%y TV from Best Buy.

vc69

bobman1235 wrote: »

Um... how could a product newer than 1977 still be working 33 years in the future, when it's 2010? Don't we have to wait 33 years to see if things we build today last that long?

And there's a difference between a satellite designed to last 100 years in space and your **** TV from Best Buy.

LoL... no ****. :rolleyes:

HBombToo

so I guess we need to get NASA to design our speakers so we can hear them out there:frown:

newrival

bobman1235 wrote: »

Um... how could a product newer than 1977 still be working 33 years in the future, when it's 2010? Don't we have to wait 33 years to see if things we build today last that long?

And there's a difference between a satellite designed to last 100 years in space and your **** TV from Best Buy.

glad other people were thinking the same thing as me...

Additionally, NASA and the American science and engineering fields (which is what I assume he meant) are the last thing that need a "wake-up call." Funding is the issue. It's American consumers and voters that need it. The majority of consumers give little thought to where their products were made/assembled and then complain jobs get shipped overseas.

cnh

bobman1235 wrote: »

Um... how could a product newer than 1977 still be working 33 years in the future, when it's 2010? Don't we have to wait 33 years to see if things we build today last that long?

And there's a difference between a satellite designed to last 100 years in space and your s#$%%y TV from Best Buy.

What's up bobman...? Am I rubbing you the wrong way or something?

You know what I mean above!

And, It's not as you make it out--as is evidenced by the posts below yours! If we have our differences--just PM me.

BTW....I've read a few of your rants--nothing wrong with that. Some are interesting and honest, even insightful.

cnh

newrival

i love all polkies
just don't always agree

messiah

I know it's not a popular way of thinking, but I think NASA is a tremendous waste of money. There is zero return on the investment. Why do we care about other planets, when we live here. Fix the one we live on. Do we need to find another one to ruin? NASA's big discovery was that there is life in california. I mean come on man, WTF?? 19 billion dollars a year, and you found some bacteria. How about the F'n cure for cancer, or something else useful, not rocket ships and f'n ET. But no, keep spewing debris into space, so when another more advanced race of beings discovers us, they just destroy us for littering. Don't kill the stupid midget with giant glasses over in north korea, don't find Bin f'n Laden, and stone him to death in central park, don't tell opec to go F**k themselves, and come up with technology that doesn't require us being dependent on oil, don't do anything that makes sense. Instead we fly around in spaceships that blow up. The f'n Ford Pinto was more reliable than the space shuttle. WTF!!!!!!!

bobman1235

cnh wrote: »

What's up bobman...? Am I rubbing you the wrong way or something?

You know what I mean above!

And, It's not as you make it out--as is evidenced by the posts below yours! If we have our differences--just PM me.

BTW....I've read a few of your rants--nothing wrong with that. Some are interesting and honest, even insightful.

cnh

I have no problem, my post wasnt' meant to be personal and I'm sorry if it came out that way, though i can't imagine how it would have. My question / statement was exactly what I said.

Something built 33 years ago cannot be compared to something built today, because something built today has not been given the opportunity to last 33 years. And that "somethign" would have to be comparable to a probe sent into deep space for the explicit purpose of lasting forever, rather than compared to something simple like a TV set. TV sets made 33 years ago for the most part are not around today, and even if they were, no one would want them.

(TV sets just being an example that I hear a lot when people complain about "they don't make things like they used to". Satellites don't come up very often)

bobman1235

messiah wrote: »

I know it's not a popular way of thinking, but I think NASA is a tremendous waste of money.

Thank God your way of thinking is not popular. Holy crap. :eek:

Just remember, if it weren't for people with the balls and money to explore, Columbus never would have led the Europeans to this little hunk of rock you seem to think should be worrying about killing people more than about discovery. NASA has its place, just like the Dept of Defense does, and they both get PLENTY of cash.

markmarc

messiah wrote: »

I know it's not a popular way of thinking, but I think NASA is a tremendous waste of money. There is zero return on the investment. Why do we care about other planets, when we live here. Fix the one we live on. Do we need to find another one to ruin? NASA's big discovery was that there is life in california. I mean come on man, WTF?? 19 billion dollars a year, and you found some bacteria. How about the F'n cure for cancer, or something else useful, not rocket ships and f'n ET. But no, keep spewing debris into space, so when another more advanced race of beings discovers us, they just destroy us for littering. Don't kill the stupid midget with giant glasses over in north korea, don't find Bin f'n Laden, and stone him to death in central park, don't tell opec to go F**k themselves, and come up with technology that doesn't require us being dependent on oil, don't do anything that makes sense. Instead we fly around in spaceships that blow up. The f'n Ford Pinto was more reliable than the space shuttle. WTF!!!!!!!

What a sad view to take. The amount of spinoff technology from the Apollo missions alone has created massive number of well-paying jobs in the private sector. Current communications technology is based on what came out of the space program.

History has shown repeatedly that pure scientific research leads to applied science that moves humankind forward, benefitting all mankind.

nooshinjohn

markmarc wrote: »

What a sad view to take. The amount of spinoff technology from the Apollo missions alone has created massive number of well-paying jobs in the private sector. Current communications technology is based on what came out of the space program.

History has shown repeatedly that pure scientific research leads to applied science that moves humankind forward, benefitting all mankind.

This is spot on.

Erik Tracy

nooshinjohn wrote: »

This is spot on.

Indeed - there was (still is I hope) a magazine that I used to get for 'free' being in the engineering field called "Nasa Tech Briefs". And the number of spin off technologies to the private sector from medicine to micro-circuitry was mind boggling.

zingo

markmarc wrote: »

What a sad view to take. The amount of spin-off technology from the Apollo missions alone has created massive number of well-paying jobs in the private sector. Current communications technology is based on what came out of the space program.

History has shown repeatedly that pure scientific research leads to applied science that moves humankind forward, benefiting all mankind.

As much as I love the private sector, there are some things that would have never, or will be never invented without pure funding and not being linked to a profit motive. Landing on the moon didn't cure cancer or eliminate poverty, but it did fuel dreams and create a world wide interest in science, to which the benefit is beyond any calculation.

newrival

messiah wrote: »

I know it's not a popular way of thinking, but I think NASA is a tremendous waste of money. There is zero return on the investment. Why do we care about other planets, when we live here. Fix the one we live on. Do we need to find another one to ruin? NASA's big discovery was that there is life in california. I mean come on man, WTF?? 19 billion dollars a year, and you found some bacteria. How about the F'n cure for cancer, or something else useful, not rocket ships and f'n ET. But no, keep spewing debris into space, so when another more advanced race of beings discovers us, they just destroy us for littering. Don't kill the stupid midget with giant glasses over in north korea, don't find Bin f'n Laden, and stone him to death in central park, don't tell opec to go F**k themselves, and come up with technology that doesn't require us being dependent on oil, don't do anything that makes sense. Instead we fly around in spaceships that blow up. The f'n Ford Pinto was more reliable than the space shuttle. WTF!!!!!!!

zero return on investment? you have no idea what you're talking about. I'm not even going to bother reading the rest of the ignorant commentary for my response. wait right here....

zingo

From NASA/JSC Office of Public Affairs:

Do you feel like an astronaut when you go to the grocery store? How about when you set your watch?

The next time you reset the smoke detector in your home, take a minute to imagine it as part of your own spacecraft's caution and warning system. Because before they saved lives on Earth, that's where smoke detectors were found on spacecraft designed and built by NASA.

NASA advances assist in automated pollution control Although NASA's most visible achievements have taken place in space, the technologies that put men on the moon, launched space shuttles and will build a space station have found their way into everyday life on Earth.

These common secondary uses, called space spinoffs, have continuously enhanced the lifestyle of Americans and strengthened the U.S. economy since the 1950s.

The technologies that led to the computer bar codes in retail stores, quartz timing crystals and household smoke detectors were originally developed for NASA.

Ergometer used by astronauts helps paralyzed man with muscle stimulation! NASA technology has provided many benefits to the medical field. The pacemakers used to treat cardiac patients as well as the remote monitoring devices for intensive care patients were derived from the telemetry systems that first monitored astronauts and spacecraft. Much of the portable medical equipment carried aboard ambulances has its roots in NASA's needs for such portable equipment in space.

These are but a few of the more than 30,000 secondary applications of space technology providing daily benefits in Earth-bound hospitals, offices and homes.

In the past, such spinoffs often happened by chance a coincidence when practical uses of new technologies were found.

The Boeing 777 - direct spinoffs from space! NASA is now seeking to make the spinoff a part of the product itself.

Working jointly with private industry to develop technologies that have a use in space and on Earth lessens the cost of development for NASA, and, ultimately, the taxpayer.

Technologies developed for NASA to meet the challenges of space exploration have found more than 30,000 secondary commercial uses in products ranging from tennis shoes to medical equipment, bar codes, pacemakers and sunglasses.

PAST NASA SPINOFFS

Aluminized space fabrics Fabrics
NASA's use of aluminized materials to serve as insulation for satellites and spacecraft helped lead to a revolution in reflective insulating materials ranging from survival blankets to wraps for water heaters to new types of interior home insulation. Extremely strong fire-retarding materials that were developed for use in the pure-oxygen air of early spacecraft have led to a host of cloths, such as Beta Glass, used in fireproof clothing, accessories and firefighter's suits. Other spacecraft materials have included teflon-coated fibers with extremely light weight but great strength that have been used as roofing material for such structures as the Detroit Silverdome and the Jedda, Saudi Arabia, Airport.

Composite materials Materials
Composite materials, a mix of fibers and resins designed to provide great strength yet remain very light weight, have been synonymous with all aerospace applications from airplanes to NASA spacecraft and have advanced into lightweight, strong materials for helmets, tennis rackets and other sporting goods. NASA spawned further development of memory metals, metals that remember their former shape when bent, in its early space station studies and advanced forms of the materials are now used in common flexible metal eyeglass frames. Other glasses benefit from scratch-resistant coatings originally developed as a protective coating for delicate spacecraft parts. In footwear, a shock-absorbing spacer

zingo

50 Consumer Technologies Developed by NASA in the Last 50 Years

Every year NASA publishes a new edition of their Spinoff magazine, a periodical that outlines NASA-based technologies that have disseminated into everyday devices, improving our lives beyond giving us some nifty new desktop wallpapers. This year marks the 50th anniversary of Spinoff, and to celebrate, NASA has created a "best of" list (that we pasted after the jump). From the aerodynamic principles applied to tractor trailers to advanced imaging techniques that allow 360-degree Real Estate photo tours, NASA demonstrates that their technological breakthroughs are about more than just sticking an American flag on the moon. -gizmodo

Health and Medicine

Robotics Offer Newfound Surgical Capabilities

In-Line Filtration Improves Hygiene and Reduces Expense

LED Device Illuminates New Path to Healing

Polymer Coats Leads on Implantable Medical Device

Lockable Knee Brace Speeds Rehabilitation

Robotic Joints Support Horses and Humans

Photorefraction Screens Millions for Vision Disorders

Periodontal Probe Improves Exams, Alleviates Pain

Magnetic Separator Enhances Treatment Possibilities

Transportation

Lithium Battery Power Delivers Electric Vehicles to Market

Advanced Control System Increases Helicopter Safety

Aerodynamics Research Revolutionizes Truck Design

Engineering Models Ease and Speed Prototyping

Software Performs Complex Design Analysis

Public Safety

Space Suit Technologies Protect Deep-Sea Divers

Fiber Optic Sensing Monitors Strain and Reduces Costs

Polymer Fabric Protects Firefighters, Military, and Civilians

Advanced X-Ray Sources Ensure Safe Environments

Consumer, Home and Recreation

Wireless Fluid-Level Measurement System Equips Boat Owners

Mars Cameras Make Panoramic Photography a Snap

Experiments Advance Gardening at Home and in Space

Space Age Swimsuit Reduces Drag, Breaks Records

Immersive Photography Renders 360° Views

Historic Partnership Captures Our Imagination

Outboard Motor Maximizes Power and Dependability

Space Research Fortifies Nutrition Worldwide

Aerogels Insulate Missions and Consumer Products

Environmental and Agricultural Resources

Computer Model Locates Environmental Hazards

Battery Technology Stores Clean Energy

Robots Explore the Farthest Reaches of Earth and Space

Portable Nanomesh Creates Safer Drinking Water

Innovative Stemless Valve Eliminates Emissions

Web-Based Mapping Puts the World at Your Fingertips

Computer Technology

Program Assists Satellite Designers

Water-Based Coating Simplifies Circuit Board Manufacturing

Software Schedules Missions, Aids Project Management

Software Analyzes Complex Systems in Real Time

Wireless Sensor Network Handles Image Data

Virtual Reality System Offers a Wide Perspective

Software Simulates Sight: Flat Panel Mura Detection

Inductive System Monitors Tasks

Mars Mapping Technology Brings Main Street to Life

Intelligent Memory Module Overcomes Harsh Environments

Integrated Circuit Chip Improves Network Efficiency

Industrial Productivity

Novel Process Revolutionizes Welding Industry

Sensors Increase Productivity in Harsh Environments

Portable Device Analyzes Rocks and Minerals

NASA Design Strengthens Welds

Polyimide Boosts High-Temperature Performance

NASA Innovation Builds Better Nanotubes

nooshinjohn

I think you forgot to mention visco-elastic foam. I was originally used in ejection systems in aircraft and as a supportive material for the back in the seats of spacecraft. Today, it is called the Tempurpedic Mattress.